Duplex windrow harvester



Nv i. 2 4, 1 3 6, 2

Filed Aug. 15, 1949 y 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 1953 c. PIERCE 2,631,421

DUPLEX WINDROW HARVESTER Filed Aug. 15, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 17, 1953 c. PIERCE DUPLEX WINDROW HARVESTER 5 Shees-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 15, 1949 NQ mw.

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wm. Il @5% a* Patented Mar. 17, 1953 ITED STATES PATET OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to that type of harvesters adapted to windrow small grain crops and more particularly to that type adapted to be mounted to the forward end of a farm tractor and forward of its front end.

I am well aware that for a number of years small grain has been harvested by first cutting it and placing it in windrows to dry before threshing, the threshing being accomplished by means of a portable thresher commonly known as a combined-harvester and thresher to gather the grain from the field and deliver it tothe thresher. There is now in common use a small combined harvester and thresher adapted to harvest and thresh the grain in a single operation when the weather and field conditions will permit, which is also adapted to gather and thresh grain from the windrow by using a pick-up attachment provided for that purpose, these harvesters are quite small in order to be operated by the ordinary farm tractor, and adapted to cut a swath about seven feet wide which supplies thethresher with all of the grain that it can handle in crops of average stand. Inasmuch as the windrow harvester is comparatively light and requires less power to operate it than the combined-harvester, a larger swath can be harvested, say fourteen feet wide, in the same length of time and with the same amount of labor and power as required to operate the small sized harvester.

It is therefore the object of my invention to provide a windrow harvester so constructed and arranged that two windrows of grain may be formed simultaneously and deposited on the stubble in spaced windrows in such a manner that the tractor will operate'between the windrows without treading down the grain.

A further object of my invention is to provide a windrow harvester in the form of a unitary unit that may be easily and quickly attached to a. tractor to operative position forwardlyof its front end, to be elevated and lowered by the hydraulic lift of the tractor and operated by power derived from the tractor.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a windrow harvester having a reciprocating cutter, improved means for actuating said cutter.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a harvester employing a continuous apron, improved means for adjusting and controlling the tension of the apron. v

My invention consists in the construction, ar rangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated and attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a farm tractor, showing in end elevation my improved windrow harvester, a portion of one back wheel being broken away. Y

Figure 2 is a top View of Figure 1 with parts broken away and drawn to a smaller scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1. f

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the conveyor with parts broken away taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken on the line I-l of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the left-hand end of the harvester platform.

For brevity, in the specification and drawings, duplicated parts and right and left hand sections bear the same reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral II) indicates a farm tractor of ordinary construction having a rear axle housing Il supported by wheels I2, the forward end of the frame I3 is supported by wheels I4 and provided with a hydraulic lift I6 also of ordinary construction. The tractor is also provided with a power takeoff shaft Il and a gear bracket I8.

My improved harvester comprises a supporting frame I9 including parallel frame members 2l and 2ER, a cross member 22 having a similar forwardly extending portion 23 at each end and brace members 24. The rear ends of the members 2| and 2|et being pivotally connected to the axle housing Il by detachable pivot devices 26, with the tractor body between them as illustrated in Figure 2. The cross member 22 being mounted ahead of the tractor a Slight distance as illustrated. The frame members 2| and 2Ia having near its central portion an upright plate 21, each being attached to a corresponding end of a cable 28 carried by the hydraulic lift I6, thus providing means for elevating the forward end of the frame I9.

Supported on the forward end of each frame member 23 I have provided a bearing 29 adapted to detachably support a transverse shaft 3| for mounting the harvester platform 32, comprising a bar 33 and a spaced upright frame 35 connected by end members 36 and intermediate members 31 and 38. The members 31 being mounted on the ends of the shaft 3| as illustrated in Figure 3. The bar 33 is provided with a forwardly extending ange 39 to which the guards 4| are mounted for supporting the sickle ft2. Each end member 36 is of similar triangular formation including an upright back member 43 and an in-clined top 44. The frame member` 34 includes a horizontal bar 46 having each end connected to the upper end of a corresponding upright 53, the bar 45 is also provided with upright members 4l placed about 12 or 14 inches from the members '43, a bar 4S connects the lower ends of said uprights 43 and 4l. A second set of uprights es are placed about 22 or 24 inches from the uprights 47, the lower ends of which are 4connected by a horizontal bar A space 52 is thus provided between the lower ends of the members fil through which thefharvested ,grain will pass throughin a. mannerhereinaftermade clear. The bar 3| supports the rear ends of the bars 38.

Thus it will be seen that I haveprovided a platform pivotally mounted on the forward ends ofthe members Vto permit the sickle bar to be elevated and lowered by rocking the platformY on saidshaft 3|, this is accomplished by means of a lever,53 having its lower end pivoted to the memberla and VVprovided with a connecting rod 54 having its forward end pivoted to the frame member 43, any suitable means, not shown, may

be provided for locking the lever in its various adjusted positions.

Mounted on each frame member 33 and 5| on eachxside rof its center is a pair of brackets 5E and vS'Issupportingan apron guide Rotatably mounted in the inner ends of each corresponding guides 58, and their supporting brackets 51, I have provided an. apron drive roller 50 by means of shafts 3| and 62. The rear ends -ofrsaid shafts extending through a gearbox 85, and 'operatively connected together to rotate in opposite directionsby gears 54A (see SFigVY), the outer end of the Ashaft V6| beingdriven by a belt pulley 62a.

Theouter end of each guide is provided with a slot 60 to receive the pivot ends lof links 63 of an apronitightener one end of each link being pivoted therein by apivot pin $5. lPivoted to the outer end vof each linkrESiiS-a link El, the outer endof each .link Eil-being pivoted to a bearing member 68 vsupporting corresponding ends of an apronlroller. I-ivoted to the adjoining ends of the .frontflinks 53h-nd el is-a bar Il having its rear end formed with an upwardly extending portionfIZYhav-ing a s-crew threaded open-ing T3; A similar .bar I4 has one end pivoted to the rear links 63 'and 57 and its other end formed with an upwardlyextending lug '16 Afor rotatably mounting a shaft 'l-'l between collars 13, the forward end of said shaft being threadedinto the lug '12 with its rear end rotatably. mounted in an eye bolt 19.-

Mounted on each of the rollers Snand its corresponding rollerV 59 is an apron 81|. From the :above construction it will be seen that the apron I3| maybe easily tightened by simply rotating the shaft 'l1 to cause the pivoted ends of the links 63 and 6I to be separated; in this connection it will be seen that either end of the roller |594 will withincer'tain limits adjust itself, one end relative to the other to accommodate any slight vari- Iation in apron lengths, between its front and back edges. Thus it will be seen that I have provided -two aprons for receiving the grain from the 4 sickle bar to be delivered in opposite directions from the center of the platform.

A box-like member 82 is mounted above the rollers 5S to help separate the twostreams of severed grain the forward end of said member 82 being pointed and extending forwardly of the sickle bar 42. The outer end of each of the aprons 3| terminating near the inner end of the space 52 as illustrated in'Eigure-B. Y

Formed at each end ofthe platform frame I have provided what I shall term a grain board 83, comprising an inclined plate 3d of substantially 'triangular formation having the lower edge of its back end rterminating near the lower end of the member 4,1 and its upper edge near the upper end of the member 43, with its upper and lower edges terminating near- `:the end of the frame member 33, with its forward end forming a hooked portion 86. The back end of the lower edge of the plate 84 is provided with 'a downwardly and inwar-olly extend-ing defiector plate Sl having its frontedgerinclined rearwardly. The Afront end of the lower -edge of fthe'plate 84 -having a pair-0f spaced bars 88. inclined rearwardly to assist in moving material from the plate 34 inwardly to bracket @3:seeii`red -nearfeach end-of the i sicklefdZ- as shown in Fig. 2:' The opposite ends ofthe cables are Aconnectedf-toas'lide 'bar` 9'4 ymounted in guides 95 supportedfon 'to-p ojfthe frame member 46 (se'e Fig. 8) each-cable including-a 'turn `buckle el. head '98 supporting'a-pivot pin 39. By the above arrangement it willbe seen 'that if the bar 94 'is reoiproca-tedrthen the sickle 4Z-will also be recipirocated.

Fixed to-ithe A:back off-'the frame member 46 I have provided@J fbracket |0| having upwardly extending. `bearings- |-0'2 and |03 rotatably supporting af shaft|04. Fixed `to the forward end of the shaft |0`4-"i's a crank head |05 provided with a 4pin |06 supportin'gone endof afconnecting rod l.|01 having its 'other-end 'mounted lon the pin 99. 'Supported 'on the bracket |'8 is a Vgear casing |08. in which Vis lmounted a shaft |03 driven by bevel gears A telescopic sha-ft I|2 connects-'thefreeends ofthe shafts IDQland |04. The Vpower take-olf shaft `|11has asprocket `|05a tor `for operatingthe sickle and ,the aprons.

Mounted lon-each 'ofsthe frame :members 35v-is a bearing ||6 t pivotally` mounting the .lowerV end of an upright reel support |11. AEach support II hasta movablyfmounted sleeve |'|8 supporting 'a shaft bearingu |9.V -Rotatably mounted in said bearingsis va reel shaft |2| mountingv a pair. ofv

reels |22, theY -bearings-v-Ilare elevated and lowered by cables 23 each having one end .xed to itsrespective sleeve 1| |-8 and passed over pulleys |24 carried by the upperV ends of thesupports ||'1. Thence downwardly under pulleys |25,

thence rearwardly to any Vconvenient pointyon.

theY tractor, not shown. Links |26` provides means vfor adjusting the `reel .forwardly :and rearwardly relative towthesickle bar 42.v Means op,

The slidefbar-'94'isY provided with a 'pi-vot so desired for the adjustable links.

Pivotally mounted on the right hand sleeve I8 f I have provided a bracket |21 including a sleeve |28, said sleeve being slidably mounted on a shaft |29 having its rear end pivoted to a bracket |3| fixed to the upper end of an upright frame member |32 fixed to the upper end of the member 43. Fixed to the right hand end of the reel shaft |2| is a bevel gear |33. Rotatably mounted in the bracket |21 and the bracket |3| is a telescopic shaft I 34 including a universal joint |36. The backend of shaft |34 is provided with a belt pulley |31 supporting a belt |38 driven by a pulley |39 mounted on the shaft |04, means is thus provided for rotating the reel from the power takeoff I1. The pulley I 31 might be of the adjustable type to vary the speed Vratio between the shafts |64 and |34 if so desired.

By placing the crank 33 and the connecting rod and the slide bar 94 on top of the frame member 46 the said parts are located above the ground a considerable distance to increase its accessibility for oiling and care, and also against the collection of dirt and other undesirable substances. By pivoting the frame members 2| and 2|a to the tractor axle housing the hydraulic lift which is vusually a part of the tractor equipment, may be used to elevate the harvester at such times as it is desired, to move the equipment over the highways, or from field to eld. Castor wheels |391.1 are provided to support the weight of the harvester when in operation.v By placing the harvester ahead of the tractor it will be seen that the tractor operates only on harvested areas and that all of the windrows on said area are spaced from the standing unharvested grain so that at no time is the windrows treaded into the ground or engaged by the harvester on its return trip. It will be seen from the above construction that only a portion of the grain severed by the cutter will be delivered to the aprons, some direct to the ground and the remainder to the grain boards.

In operation assuming that the harvester has been attached as above described and that the tractor and harvester are being advanced into standing grain with the wheels |39 on the ground surface, the sickle 42 will sever the stalks the tops of which will be delivered rearwardly by the reel |22, part of which will be delivered to the aprons 8|, part to the spaces 52 and part to the grain boards 84. As the harvester is advanced the aprons 8l will move the severed grain thereon outwardly in opposite directions to the spaces 52, while that portion of the grain falling on the grain boards will be moved inwardly to said openings by gravity, stubble extending upwardly through the spaces between the bars 88 will help to deliver the grain from said boards.

The apron tightner 64 provides means for quickly and easily adjusting the tension of the aprons by simply placing a suitable wrench on the back end of the shaft 11.

Thus it will be seen that I have invented an improved windrow harvester in the form of an attachable unit that may be easily and quickly attached to the ordinary farm tractor and when so attached Will enable the farmer to rapidly harvest and windrow his grain by delivering two windrows simultaneously, one on each side of the tractor and so spaced apart that the tractor Will pass between them without treading the grain into the ground. It will also be seen that I have provided an improved means for driving 6 a long sickle bar to overcome its tendency to buckle on the push stroke, when the conventional crank and pitman construction is employed.

I claim: 1. A windrow harvester comprising an elongated platform mounted transversely of its line of advance having a delivery space near each end, a sickle adjacent the forward edge of said frame, means for causing grain being severed to fall on said frame, means at each end of said frame for moving grain inwardly to a corresponding delivery space, and means for moving the severed grain from the transverse center of said frame outwardly to said delivery spaces whereby two spaced windrows will be simultaneouslylayed on the stubble formed behind said sickle and spaced inwardly from the corresponding ends of the swath of stubble formed by said sickle.

2. A windrow harvester comprising an elongated and horizontal platform, means mounting said platform transversely of its line of advance, a grain board at each end of said platform having its lower edge inclined inwardly and rearwardly and provided at its rear end with a downwardly and inwardly inclined plate and at its forward edge with a Vplurality of spaced deector bars inclined downwardly, inwardly and rearwardly, a pair of endless aprons mounted end to end on the central portion of said platform with their outer ends terminating some distance from said grain boards to provide delivery spaces therebetween, means for simultaneously moving said aprons in opposite directions, and means for cutting and delivering grain rearwardly to said aprons, grain board, and delivery spaces as the frame is advanced forwardly.

3. A windrow harvester comprising a supporting frame employing a transverse bar, a forwardly extending frame member at each end of said bar, a pair of spaced frame members extending rearwardly from said bar intermediate its ends to receive a tractor between them, means for attachably connecting the free ends of the last frame members to a tractor housing, means for attaching said frame members to a tractor lift at points intermediate their ends to elevate and lower the entire supporting frame by said tractor lift, a castor wheel for supporting each end of said bar when in its lowered position, a rock shaft carried by the forward end of the rst frame members, a harvester platform mounted on said rock shaft, and means for tilting said platform to elevate and lower its forward end.

4. A windrow harvester comprising a supporting frame employing a transverse bar, a forwardly extending frame member at each end of said bar, a pair of spaced frame members extending rearwardly from said bar intermediate its ends to receive a tractor between them, means for attachably connecting the free ends of the last frame members to a tractor housing, means for attaching said frame members to a tractor lift at points intermediate their ends, a castor wheel for supporting each end of said bar, a rock shaft carried by the forward end of the first frame members, a harvester platform mounted on said rock shaft, means for tilting said platform to elevate and lower its forward end, said platform having a delivery space near each end, a sickle adjacent to the front edge of said platform, a reel for delivering the severed grain to said platform, means at i eachf endof i said i platform-fon mow/inge grain inwardly-i to its 1adjacent `udelivery opening andmeans fonmovinggrain-frorrithel central por-fl tion of the platform simultaneously andi-inopposite directions to said* delivery* openings,

whereby two spacedwindrowsof` grain* will be Y layed.:simultaneouslyA Von 4the stubble behind `rthe sickle z and some. distance-v fromf tl'ielD standing-f grain:`

5; A windrow-2 harvester'comprisi-ngf. a support# ingaframev employingra m'ansverseA bar, a for-v wardly y extending: frame' member at` eachf end? of 'saidy bar, azpair of "spa-ced -fram'ev members *exe tending rearwardly from said barintermediate its A ends to. receive atractor between,A tbem,v means for vattaclnably connecting vthe.I freeends,v of the last framemembers 'to aitractorihousing; means for attaehingA said frame members to a tractor lift at points intermediate their ends, a castor `wheel'for 'supportingaeach'endof said bar, arock shaft carried by "the lforwarol: enti?. of theu'irst' frame. members', a harvester plat-y form mounted on said 'rockfshaft,1 means yfor tiltingl said. platformv to elevate andi; lower its; forwardnend' said platformhaving. a delivery,A space near, each end; a sickle kadjacentlto vthe front .edge 2 of .f'said ,.platform; a reelv for'1 delivere- :ingxv thef-severed grainf. to said platform;`r means at each end of vsaid`v platformfor-inovinglgrsaiinL inwardly toA its VVadj aeentfdelivery opening, means for moving gra-infrom the central portion offth-e platform simultaneously fand.- in opposite direc# tionsto said delivery openings, and 'means -Yopferatedfrom the power 'take-oif'-- of ar-traetori forL The, following references i are V,of lreccird fin the le i of this l patent:

UNITED l STATES PATENTS= Number Name Date'A 921,110 H011'y` MayH, 1909f 1,669,357zvr Stoutr May 8, 1928; 1,724,300 Moncreiife'- Aug; 131929 1,740,723 Bl'ewett DBC." 24,4 1929 1,792,691- Harris etal. Feb:"17', 1931 1,844,860 Lidgl'etlA Feb. 9, 1932:: 1,859,168 Ralley" May 17, 1932"" 1,917,352 Apsel July 411, ,1933; 2,282,567 Ell'efson' Max/12,v` 1942" 2,529,612 Kayser" NOV." 14; 1950 2,532,426 Shroeppelv- D'ec."5, 1950 

